Social housing supports 

Do I qualify for social housing support?

You must apply to your local authority for social housing support.

To be eligible for social housing you must:

• Satisfy income criteria.
• Show that you do not have suitable alternative accommodation.

If you are a foreign national, you must have a legal right to remain in the State on a long-term basis.

How is eligibility assessed?

Income assessment 

You will need to provide proof of income with your application.

You will be assessed on your household’s average net income for the previous 12 months.

A local authority will use the Household Means Policy when assessing your income, which sets out what income is taken into account and what is not. For example, there are certain social welfare payments that are excluded when determining your income.

Different income limits apply depending on where you live. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has published a table showing these maximum net income limits for eligibility based on the city or county council area you are living in.

Need for accommodation 

To be eligible for social housing support, you must be assessed as in genuine need of accommodation, and you must not have alternative accommodation available.

If a member of the household has property that the household could reasonably be expected to live in, you will be regarded as having alternative accommodation and therefore will not be eligible for social housing support.

Housing for people with a disability

People with a disability who are in need of housing and who qualify for the social housing list can access affordable or social housing that is accessible and meets their needs through the local authority. The application process for people with a disability is the same as anyone applying for social housing support.

How do I apply?

To apply for social housing support, you must submit an application form and supporting documentation to your local authority. You can find the application form on the hosing section of your local authority’s website or contact your local authority's housing department and ask for an application form.

The local authority has 12 weeks from receiving your completed application form to assess it and make a decision on whether you qualify for social housing or not. This timeframe can be extended if the local authority needs additional information, which they will request from you.

What social housing is available to me?

If you are accepted as eligible for and in need of housing, you are placed on the local authority housing list. If you specified ‘areas of choice’ in other local authority areas (areas that you would accept an offer of housing in), you will also be placed on their housing lists.

Local authority tenancy  

Local authorities own and lease housing which can be rented by those in need of housing. This housing is allocated to those on the housing list, based on an allocation model approved by the Council.

Some properties are also allocated on a choice-based model, meaning they are advertised as available and those on the waiting list can apply for a tenancy.

How is rent calculated?

Tenants in local authority owned housing pay rent to the local authority.

Local authority rents are based on a system called differential rents. This means that the rent is based on your ability to pay, so if your income is low, your rent will be low; and if your income increases, your rent will increase also. The income of any other adult members of your household will be included in the rent calculation and there may be deductions for any children in your family. Each local authority operates its own rent scheme.

If your income or the income of anyone in your household changes, you must inform the local authority, so that it can recalculate your rent.

Approved Housing Body housing tenancy 

An Approved Housing Body (AHB) is an organisation that provides affordable, rented accommodation to people on the local authority housing list. If you have indicated on your application form that you would like to be accommodated in Approved Housing Body (AHB) owned accommodation if it is available, you may be allocated an AHB tenancy. AHB rents are also linked to income.

Private rented accommodation supported by HAP 

Those who are assessed as in need of social housing support are eligible for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). 

Under the HAP scheme, tenants find their own accommodation in the private rented market and then apply for HAP. If approved for HAP, local authorities make a monthly rent payment to a landlord on the tenant’s behalf, subject to terms and conditions including rent limits.

The HAP tenant pays a weekly contribution towards the rent to the local authority. This ‘rent contribution’ is based on the household income.

Accommodation should be within the HAP rent limits. These limits are based on your household and the rental market in your area. The housing section of your local authority will let you know what the rent limits are.

Your tenancy agreement will be between you and your landlord. The local authority is not your landlord.

HAP is a form of housing support, so if you are getting HAP you will no longer be on the housing list.

For more information visit www.hap.ie.

Private rented accommodation supported by the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS)

Those who are in receipt of Rent Supplement from the Department of Social Protection and are in need of long-term housing may be eligible for the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS).

RAS is being phased out and replaced by HAP.

Under RAS, the local authority makes an agreement with landlords to provide accommodation for those in need. The local authority pays rent to the landlord and the tenant pays a contribution to the local authority.

Mortgage to rent scheme

If you own your own house and you are having difficulty making your mortgage payments, you may be eligible for the mortgage to rent scheme.

Under this scheme, homeowners who are at risk of losing their home due to mortgage arrears can voluntarily surrender their home to the mortgage lender, which allows an Approved Housing Body (AHB) or a private company to buy the home. You can continue to live in your home as a tenant of the local authority or an approved housing body, but you will no longer own the home or have any financial interest in it. You would pay an affordable rent based on your income, which will increase or decrease as your income changes.

As a social housing tenant, you will have a right to have your housing needs met by the local authority, so if your circumstances change the local authority will provide alternative accommodation. Otherwise, you can continue to live in your home as a social housing tenant. If your financial situation improves, you will have the option to buy your home back.

Find out more about mortgage to rent at MortgageToRent.ie.